Parachute control



Dec. 1 1 1923.

A. A. BARTON PARACHUTE CONTROL Filed Nov. 4, 1921 IN VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1 1, 1923.

. lTED ABTHUR a. BARTON, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

raaacnnrsconraon.

Application flied November 4, 1921. Serial No. 512,758.

Tocll'whomz'tma conc'em:

Be it known that ARTHUR A. BARTON, a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parachute Controls, of which the following is a specifie cation.

My invention relates to means for controlling the descent of or landing place for a parachute to the end of avoiding a dangerous or unsuitable position to which uncontrolled parachutes so often descend.

or are carried by the wind. The object of the present invention is to provide a valve whereby the initial part of a drop may be hastened in order to shorten a dangerous lateral drift, and to atthe same time provide an adjustable rudder whereby such lateral movement may be modified or changed,

With the foregoing object in view my invention consists in the novel construction of valve and rudder, its combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail, illustrated iii the accompanying draw: ing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure 1 represents a side view of a parachute, partly broken away, with my invention, shown partly in. section, applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the valve-rudder and its frame alone, showing.

the valve-rudder in its closed position.

Figure 3 is an edge or side view of Figure 2, part of the upper clamp ring being broken away.

stantially on the line 4-4: of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

In the several views 2 represents the body of the parachute which may be of any desired form of construction. In the middle 'or apex of the structure 2 is an opening 3 each other a I airof journal bearings 9 and 10 for valveoor journals or pivots 11 and 12 on avalve-door 13 which fits within the opening of the ring 4 and is preferably provided with a flat counterweight 14 with a. curved edge 15 which overlies the inner edge -16 of the opening within the ring 4. The counterweight is thereby caused to serve as a stop limiting the rotary movement of the valve while also tending to hold said valve in its closed position as in Figure 2. Each of said bearings 9 and 10 is secured by means of a plate or cover portion 17'thereon from which projects downwardly a slide bearing-block portion 18 that is narrower than said plate portion 17 and passes through a curved slot in the ring 4. Against the under-side of the block 18 and loosely against the under face of the ring 4, is

' placed a plate 19 of substantially the same dimensions as the plate 17. By means of bolts 20 passing through the parts 17, 18 and 19 these parts are held together slidably on the ring 4, nuts 21 on the bolts bearing against the under plate 19. These bearing b ocks 18 are movable in slots 22 and 23 which pass entirely through the plate 4 vertically. On the ends of one of the plates 19 are suitable rope or cable attaching means such as-eyes 24; and 25 and tangentially from said eyes similar eyes are secured to the under-side of the ring 4, an eye 26 being thus provided to co-operate with the eye 24 and a similar eye 27 being provided to cooperate with the eye 25 as a rope or cable guide. While the arrangement is shown in its simplest form it is obvious that the usual pulleys or other guides may be provided in Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken subplace of the eyes 26 and 27 as well as for other similar eyes hereinafter referred to.

To the eyes 24 and 25 respectively, are secured the ends of ropes or cable, or other flexible connections, 28 and 29, the former passing from the eye 24 through the eye 26 from which the rope or cable hangs free in a run 30 which is extended downwardly to within reach of the parachute passenger (not shown) suspended in the usual manner from the parachute ropes or hangers 31 shown partly in Figure -1. The valve 13 is swung on its axis or journals 11 and 12 by similar free or swinging edge of the valve or door 13 being for this purpose provided with an eye 33 to which the ends of two runs of rope .34 and 35 are attached, the former hanging rope connections or their equivalents, the

down to within reach of the o rator directly from the e e on the valve w ile the rope 35 is passed t rough an eye or pulley 36 from which a run 37 is extended to the operator.

By pulling on the latter the valve-door is closed, if or when it is necessary to assist its normal tendency to close owin to the counterweight aiding the substantially balanced air-pressure against the door during its descent.

Pulling on the rope 3O swings the door in an are at right angles to its 11, 12 axis and in In the opposite direction it 0113 direcltionl.1 f h is rawn t e ro e 29 assing rom t e-eye 25 througli the ey 27 (1 in a run 32. The different angles of inclination at which the valve, door, or rudder .13 is held open or artly open determines the extent of lateral movement as well as rate of speed of the drolpping movement, the former being variab e as to direction of lateral movement by swinging the member 13 at right angles to its axis 11 and 12. The journa s 11 and 12 are held against longitudinal movement in their bearings and the door ad justed to a proper fit within its opening by a gzir of downwardly struck lugs 38 on the arings 9 and 10 which act as end-thrust bearings.

own to the operator I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a parachute having an openin in its to of a combination va ve-door an rudder a justable at various angles of inclination on an axis spanning said opening, and means for operating said valvedoor and rudder.

2. The combination with a parachute, having' top opening, and a closer for said opening ada ted to vary the velocity and direction of its descent, said closer bein adapted to swing angularly on a support w ich is rotatable in said opening.

3. The combinationwitha parachute, of a rudder-controlled passage therethroufh, a rudder adapted to open and close sai passage, said rudder belng movable on a'horizontal axis and means adjusting the angle of inclination of said rudder.

4. The combination with a parachute having a vertical opening therethrough, of a door closing said opening in a horizontal lane, and means for adjustingly moving sai door on two axes of rotation at right angles to each other.

In -testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

' ARTHURA. BARTON. 

